Gun Permit Applications Go Digital In NC County

Brunswick County, NC -- County officials recently made gun permits more accessible for residents with a new online system Tuesday.

In Brunswick County, residents can now apply for handgun purchase permits through an online application.

The county saw the changes as a way to make getting a permit easier, but also to make processing the applications easier for county employees.

More than 1,300 pistol permit applications were issued in Brunswick County in 2012, and more than 800 have been submitted this year, according to Star News Online.

While the online process would not cut down much on the time it takes office workers to process applications, it would cut down on the number of paper applications county employees would have to handle.

All state laws still apply to the county's online process.

Applicants must be 21 years old, have a valid form of identification and have lived in the county for at least a month. Also, anyone applying must also sign a release allowing the sheriff's office to determine the qualifications and competencies of the person trying to purchase a handgun.

People without internet access can still apply for permits at the sheriff's office.